Distribution system for vapor electric devices.



R. e. STANDBRWIGK.

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1913.

Patented Apr. M, 1914.

Voltage -Witnesses:

1 Z a 4 cur rent lnVenLor:

Regmald Gstandervvick M15 qttorney eairrn tibiae/lite REGINALD G. STANDERWIGK, 01F KAYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASlSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELEGTRIG COMPANY, A CORYEGRATIfiN OF NEW? YQlR-K.

lessees,

Specification of Letters Patent.

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FDR VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICES.

Application filed May 2 1-, 1813. Serial Ito. 768,599.

ToaZZ: whom it may concern Be it known that l, REGINALD G. SansonewIoK, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Distribution Systems for Vapor Electric Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the opera. tion and regulation of vapor electric de vices, particularly the operation of alternating current vapor lamps, or the like, on variable voltage circuits.

My invention is particularly applicable to what is known as the high pressure lamp, which is operated in a refractory envelop, such, for example, as quartz.

The high pressure lamp, also commonly known as the quartz lamp, is quite distinct in its electrical characteristics from a low pressure lamp, commonly operated in a long glass envelop. One of the best distinc' tions that may be drawn between these two types of lamps is the following: A low pres.

sure, low temperature vapor lamp takes about the same voltage and consumes about the same amount of energy at starting as it does in normal operation, while a high pressure lamp starts at cimsidcrably lower voltage and at starting takes less energy than under normal operating conditions when the lamp has come to a final equilibrium. The energy consumption in a high pressure lamp is considerably greater per unit length than in a low pressure lamp, and it may be said that the high pressure lamp as now commonly constructed and proportioned operates with a consumption of more than 25 ter. In other words, more than about watts per square inch of surface. in fact, the usual energy consum tion is about 80 to 100 watts per inch lengti in a tube of this diameter. The character of the high pressurelamp has been described to distinguish it from the low pressure lamp from which it differs materially in many respects partied larly in the relation of voltage to current.

It is the main object of the present inven tion to provide .an electrical system of distribution in which an alternating vapor device of the high pressure type may be operated with the greatest economy and stability, While also safe-guarding the device itself against overvoltage. Inaccordance With my yOltage series circuit in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 illustrates bymiu-ves the voltage and currentrclations in high pressure vapor electric devices; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the cathode end of the device showing the mercury electrode.

Fig. 1 shows a series circuit 1 supplied. by a constant current transformer 2 having as usual a stationary primary coil 3 and a inovable secondary coil 4. in this circuit are primaries of series transformers 5, 6, complete connections to only one of which have been shown in detail for purposes of illustration, but it should be understood that any number of devices'inay be similarly operated in series. The transformers 5 and (5 have been somewhat diagran'nnatically indicated being of the compensator type in which the primary and secondary coils are not separate and distinct but one is a continuation ot the other. My invention also is ap- I materia-l, preferably tungsten, and being connected to the terminals of the secondary windingoy means of conductors 11 and 12. [the cathode 13 consists of mercury, or other easily mporizaole materials, and is connected to a point of intermediate potential, by conductor it including preferably an induotance 15. An arc is started by tilting as usual. I v

The transformers 5 and 6 are provided with iron cores 1G and l/lproportioned to operate near saturation as will be described. i /'hen a high pressure device, provided with mercury anode described, tor example, by Koch Patents 793,530 and 883,725, and having some anode condensing means, such as or a cooling chamber, is placed on a, series or constant current eircui" it has a volt ampere characteristic as illustrated by curve A. of Fig. In this curve the value Patent-soa s.retort} ltit) of current and voltage are plotted respectively as abscissa and ordinate in a lamp of a given length of tube. It will be noted that at a certain critical current value that the curve is almost perpendicular. If it were attempted to operate such a. lam on an ordinary series circuit, at the critical current value, the voltage would rise continuously until the wattage increased to a point suili cient to destroy the lamp. lh1s general shape of the volt-ampere curve is also char acteristic of a vapor device in which the anode consists of solid material, but as shown by curve B continuesi ts critical rise to a higher limit of current. The curve may be still. more flattened by providing some condensing means near the cathode as disclosed in application Serial No. 753,947, filed March 13, 1913, by Ezechiel VVeintraub,

but as shown by curve C it alsoibecome s steep at a higher current value. If any of these types-of higher pressure vapor de vices were operated without special provisions being made, on a variable voltage constant current circuit 'it would be necessary to limit the current materially below the critical point at which the curve becomes very steep. As the general. shape of the volt-ampere curve is affected by the amount of cooling andv other variable factors, it is not entirely sale to depend upon the characteristic of the circuit and the current limit set by the. constant current transfor1ner,or other source of energy. As a lamp of the high pressure type is operated atthe greatest etliciency at higher current values it is desirable that a lamp of this type should be operated as near as possible to the point.

at which the voltage begins to rise abruptly without further increase of current. Therefore, it any change of external conditions or of the electrical characteristic of the cireuit should take place the lamp would be endangered. When in accordance with my invention the lamp, rectifier or other device is connected to a supply device proportioned to operate at a flux density corresponding substantially to the maximum wattage, any incipient rise of voltage will produce a decrease of wattage thus restoring the lamp to normal operating conditions and preventing injury by over-heating.

While I have illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1 a mercury vapor lamp having solid anodes connected to a transforming device proportioned inaceordanee with my invention, I wish it to be understood that other types of-liigh pressure devices, such as rectifiers, and also devices having mercury anodes, and provided with special cooling means may be similarly operated.

My invention enables an alternating cur rent high pressure lamp to be operated on series circuits with simple connections and a simple starting mechanism at higher efiicieney than'a, high pressure lamp of the same rating operated on direct current circuits, as a series steadying resistance is not required.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

l. The'combinatio'n of a high pressure vapor electric device having a cathode and a plurality of anodes, and an alternating current supply means therefor, proportioned to operate at afiux density corresponding substantially to the maximum wattage output,

companied by a decrease of current.

2. The combination of a constant current variable voltage lipe, a transforming device having its primary connected in series there- 'whereby an increase of voltage will be acwith, a vapor electric device having anodes connected to the secondary terminals of said device and a cathode connected to a point of intermediate potential on said secondary, the transforming device being proportioned with respect to the vapor device to operate near its maximum wattage output.

3. The combination of a high pressure alternating current mercury lamp, and a transforming device supplying electrical energy thereto, said device having a magnetic core proportioned to operate so near to saturation that an increase of the secondary voltage will be accompanied by .acorre spondingly greater decrease of the secondcurrent.

REGINALD c. STANDEBWIOKQ Witnesseszf FRANK-0. DAVERN,

Louis FRIEDMAN. 

